Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves $200,000 cap for Act 3.11 extracurricular allocations
Summary
The Calcasieu Parish School Board approved a staff plan to give each school an upfront allocation for Act 3.11 extracurricular pay — $3,500 for middle/high and $2,100 for elementary — with a $200,000 district cap funded from the general fund, after discussion and public comment.
The Calcasieu Parish School Board on Sept. 24 approved a staff proposal to fund state‑mandated Act 3.11 extracurricular payments by giving each school a fixed upfront allocation and placing a $200,000 cap on district spending.
Staff member Dr. Van Meter explained the district could not practicably allocate money club‑by‑club because schools vary widely in number and frequency of clubs. "We came up with giving the schools an allocation, similar to what we would do for, say, a janitorial allocation or for, coaching supplements," Dr. Van Meter said, describing two options: a flat stipend for a sponsor or hourly pay for coverage such as bus splits or gate workers. He said staff estimated about 100 hours for middle and high schools and about 60 hours for elementary schools and proposed per‑school baseline amounts that add to roughly $200,000 annually.
Board members raised concerns about fairness between large and small campuses and the district’s lack of state funding for the mandate. The chair and staff characterized the plan as a pilot that would be monitored. The chair clarified that allocations would be deposited into a separate school account and principals would be required to submit a plan and monthly sign‑offs so spending is trackable.
Public commenters urged guardrails. Carrie Johnson, president of the Southwest Louisiana Federation of Teachers, said the general fund or sales tax fund should support the allotment and warned against reclassifying duties to avoid pay. "I concur with what Mr. Castile has been saying," Johnson said, urging monitoring to avoid perceived unfairness among campuses. Kathleen Smith, staff at the Southwest Federation, also urged careful oversight and said long job descriptions and incentive offers should not replace mandated pay.
A motion from board member Mr. Casteel to set a $200,000 cap funded from the general fund, seconded by Miss O'Bannon, passed on a voice vote. The board voted to adopt the staff's per‑school allocations ($3,500 for middle/high; $2,100 for elementary) subject to the $200,000 cap and directed staff to return with details and monitoring procedures.
Next steps: staff will implement the allocation mechanism, require plans and job descriptions or contracts for stipend recipients, and provide monitoring reports to the board as the pilot proceeds.
